News and Announcements

Judge Keith to commemorate Marching Toward Justice exhibition at his alma mater, West Virginia State University, and give Founderís Day keynote address

March 15, 2011

DETROIT (March 15, 2011) – Wayne State University Law School alumnus Hon. Damon J. Keith, LL.M. ’56, will return to his undergraduate alma mater, West Virginia State University (WVSU), this week to give the keynote address for its 120th Founder’s Day celebration on March 17. The Marching Toward Justice: The History of the 14th Amendment exhibit is on display at WVSU to commemorate this occasion.

Founders Day is celebrated annually at WVSU and marks the day legislation was signed in 1891 that created the land grant institution in Kanawha County, W.Va., for African-American students.

“I am honored to have been invited back to West Virginia State University to mark this significant occasion,” Judge Keith said. “The school provided opportunities for me and helped shape my goals and aspirations for the future. I know it will continue to be a motivating place for young people for many more years.

“I am also delighted that Marching Toward Justice is a part of this historic anniversary. As a chronicle of our continued pursuit of civil rights for all people, the exhibit is both informative and inspirational.”

The Marching Toward Justice exhibit, part of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History at Wayne Law, is on display at WVSU through April 15 for the university’s 120th anniversary. The exhibition opening at WVSU last month was a great success that included a public lecture on the 14th amendment and a ceremony attended by President Hazo W. Carter Jr.

The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
The Hon. Damon J. Keith’s life has been dedicated to fighting for justice and opportunity. The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, made possible through generous gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations, will allow that work to continue at Wayne Law. The Keith Center will help the Law School attract and retain outstanding students, support and strengthen its faculty, enhance programming, and promote civil rights in one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the United States. Ground was broken for the building on May 17, 2010, and it is set to open in fall 2011. The Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History is integral to the work of the Keith Center and was created to meet the need for a central repository for African American legal history.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu.